Explosive composition stabilized by nitro- or nitroso-triphenyl amine



3,097,122 EXPLQSIVE COMPQSITEON STABILEZED BY NITRQ- UR NiTR-OSOTRHHENYL AMENE Wiibnr (J. Cox, Alexandria, Va, and Sydney Meyers,

Brookline, and Edward F. Kenn, Loweil, Mass, assignors, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army No Drawing. Filed Dec. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 157,950

2 Claims. (Cl. 149-92) This invention relates to the use of nitroand nitrososubstituted triphenylamines as stabilizers in explosives, explosive mixtures, propellants, and propellant compositions.

Prior to this invention explosives and propellants were stabilized by diphenylamines. It has now been discovered that nitro substituted triphenylamines are a markedly su perior and more efficient class of stabilizers than heretofore known.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a more efficient stabilizer for explosives and propellants.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a more economical stabilizer due to the smaller quantity required.

Other and further advantages will become apparent from the following specification.

We have discovered that nitroand nitroso-substituted triphenylamines may be advantageously used in explosive or propellant compositions. This class of compounds, -i.e., compounds with three phenyl groupings exhibit superior qualities for the stability of organic nitro compounds. Any substituted nitro or nitrosotriphenylamine in any amount from a trace up to about 5% by weight will successfully stabilize the decomposition of organic nitro explosives provided all the phenyl groups are not completely substituted. The N radical or the NO radical :may be located anywhere on the phenyl group, i.e., in the ortho, meta, or para positions, and multiple N0 or NO groups may be employed if saturation of the phenyl groups with substituents is avoided.

Empirical formulas for the stabilizers may be expressed as follows:

wherein x=1-14.

3,9 1,122 Patented July 9, i963 ice Organic nitro explosives such as nitrocellulose, nitrocellulose-nitroglycerin, nitrocellulose-nitroglycerin-nitroguanidine, nitroglycol, nitroglycerin, nitroguanidine, hexahydro 1,3,5-trinitroso-S-triazine, cyclotrimethylenetrinitrosamine, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, are a few examples of the compounds with which our stabilizers may be most beneficially employed. However, it should be realized that any organic nitro compound which has oxides of nitrogen as its decomposition products will be suitably benefitted by the addition of our stabilizers.

In one experimental run, approximately 3% by weight of Z-nitrotriphenylamine was mixed With 97% by Weight of cyclotrimethylenetrinitrosamine. The resulting mixture showed excellent vacuum stability at C.

It is to be understood that other substituents and proportions may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

We claim:

1. An explosive composition comprising a trace up to 5% by Weight of a stabilizer from the group consisting of nitro-substituted tr-iphenylamine and nitroso-substituted triphenylamine and the balance organic nitro explosives selected from the group consisting of nitrocellulose, nitrocellulose-nitroglycerin, nitrocellulose-nitroglycerin-nitroguanidine, nitroglycol, nitroglycerin, nitroguanidine, hexahydro 1,3,S-trinitroso-S-triazine, cyclotrimethylenetrinitrosamine, and pentaerythritol tetranitrate.

2. An explosive composition comprising about 3% by Weight of Z-nitrotriphenylamine and about 97% by weight of cyclotrimethylenetrinitrosamine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 18,989 Norton Nov. 7, 1933 2,125,941 Vitznau Aug. 9, 1938 2,996,461 Kaufman et al Aug. 15, 1961 OTHER REFERENCES Chemical Abstracts, American Chemical Society, vol. 21, Jan-May 1927, page 99; vol. 24, Jan-Mar. 1930, page 80. (Copy in Scientific Library.) 

1. AN EXPLOSIVE COMPOSITION COMPRISING A TRACE UP TO 5% BY WEIGHT OF A STABILIZER FROM THE GROUP CONSITING OF NITO-SUBSTITUTED TRIPHENYLAMINE AND NITROSO-SUBSTITUTED TRIPHENYLAMINE AND THE BALANCE ORGANIC NITRO EXPLOSIVES SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF NITROCELLULOSE, NITROCELLULOSE-NITROGLYCERIN, NITROCELLULOSE-NITROGLYCERIN-NITROGUANIDINE, NITROGLYCOL, NITROGLYCERIN, NITROGUANIDINE, HEXAHYDRO - 1,3,5-TRINITROSO-S-TRIAZINE, CYCLOTRIMETHYLENETRINITROSAMINE, AND PENTAERYTHRITOL TETRANITRATE. 